Schmidt: Cook 'misinformed'; Google is more secure than Apple

posted by Alan F. / Oct 02, 2014, 11:24 PM

Schmidt: Cook 'misinformed'; Google is more secure than Apple

Eric Schmidt, Google's executive chairman, attempted on Thursday to set the record straight about which company is more secure, Google or Apple. An open letter written last month on Apple's website from its CEO Tim Cook, referred to an unnamed internet company that uses information from its subscribers to make money. Cook obviously was referring to Google, and Schmidt was eager to lecture Apple's top executive.

The Google executive replied to Cook's written jabs by saying that Cook was misinformed about Google's policies. He stated that Google is the leader in security and encryption, and that Apple is just now starting to catch up to Google.

"Someone didn't brief him correctly on Google's policies, that's unfortunate for him. In Google's place, we have always been the leader in security and in encryption. Our systems are far more secure and encrypted than anyone else, including Apple. They're catching up, which is great."-Eric Schmidt, executive chairman, Google

As for the monetization comments, Schmidt did admit that Google sends out ads with Gmail, but it is something that the company has been doing for a decade. Cook had stirred up the Google executive by making the comment in his open letter, "When an online service is free, you're not the customer. You're the product."

source: CNN via AppleInsider

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32 Comments

1. 0xFFFF

Posts: 3806; Member since: Apr 16, 2014

It's like two naked emperors arguing about whose clothes are fancier.

posted on Oct 02, 2014, 11:25 PM 28

4. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

Soo true.

posted on Oct 02, 2014, 11:41 PM 8

10. ManusImperceptus

Posts: 724; Member since: Jun 10, 2014

It's just business for the companies; the users are the only ones to take it personal...

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 1:16 AM 2

13. My1cent

Posts: 370; Member since: Jan 30, 2014

"When an online service is free, you're not the customer. You're the product.", Tim Cook. Remind me of 'Personal medical/health information' !?!

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 2:37 AM 7

32. My1cent

Posts: 370; Member since: Jan 30, 2014

Anyone online could be the product!

posted on Oct 22, 2014, 10:46 PM 0

23. janno

Posts: 144; Member since: Aug 19, 2014

They are the ones promising privacy and security to users, though...

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 9:30 AM 0

16. Ashoaib

Posts: 3291; Member since: Nov 15, 2013

I think android is more secure than over hyped ios

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 3:24 AM 11

17. LetsBeHonest

Posts: 1548; Member since: Jun 04, 2013

I don't think neither of them are more secure since they are the major dominating player. Its better to stick with Windows Phone or BB.

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 3:51 AM 2

20. SuperNexus

Posts: 127; Member since: Jan 18, 2013

then you are sticking with worst

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 5:45 AM 2

29. elitewolverine

Posts: 5192; Member since: Oct 28, 2013

Depends on needs. Currently right now windows phone has replace the phones in here for business because they are much easier imo, and actually right now have lower fail rates at this time than the ones they replaced. As well, integrating with office out the box when they switched was a huge plus. Not to mention it saved internal application development time and money by only having to support a single OS line instead of 2-3-4

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 1:15 PM 1

2. fzacek

Posts: 2486; Member since: Jan 26, 2014

I think the iCloud leak incidents speak for themselves...

posted on Oct 02, 2014, 11:26 PM 33

12. kentas

Posts: 11; Member since: Jul 06, 2014

yeh like 5millions gmail accounts leaked.... but yeh fandroids doesn't remember that...

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 1:36 AM 3

14. enthasuium

Posts: 150; Member since: Nov 21, 2013

atleast people's naked selfie is secure....unlike others LOL

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 2:58 AM 8

19. NexusPhan

Posts: 632; Member since: Jul 11, 2013

Those were not gmail accounts that were leaked. Those were accounts where people signed up for other (oftentimes sketchy) websites with a gmail address as their user name and with whatever password they decided to use. It had absolutely nothing to do with Google. You could only have been affected if you used the same password to sign up for the hacked websites as you did for gmail.

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 5:18 AM 10

22. kentas

Posts: 11; Member since: Jul 06, 2014

Like iCloud victims did ^^ Is Apple fault that somebody makes weak passwords or use same password for all unknown websites? Stop being blind Apple hater...

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 7:32 AM 2

25. SellPhones82

Posts: 569; Member since: Dec 11, 2008

Wrong! Apple had to lockout system in place that would lock the account after 5 incorrect passwords entered. Instead, it allowed the hackers to try thousands of possible passwords until it got it right. http://9to5mac.com/2014/09/01/vulnerability-in-find-my-phone-service-and-weak-passwords-may-explain-alleged-celebrity-photo-leaks/ The vulnerability allegedly discovered in the Find my iPhone service appears to have allowed attackers to use this method to guess passwords repeatedly without any sort of lockout or alert to the target. Once the password has been eventually matched, the attacker can then use it to access other iCloud functions freely. How was Apple able to fix this problem on 9-1-14 if it was a "user issue" problem as you state? Probably because the problem did fall on Apple? Hackers exploited a weakness in iCloud and Apple fix it. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/01/icloud-bug-fixed_n_5748642.html Stop being a blind Apple defender and read some facts!

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 10:05 AM 6

28. bwhiting

Posts: 188; Member since: Jun 15, 2013

He needs a bandage for that burn there :O

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 12:44 PM 0

26. SellPhones82

Posts: 569; Member since: Dec 11, 2008

Oh and the Gmail passwaord were due to malware-infected computers. Google can't help it if you don't have virus/malware protection on your PC. If these users had two-step authentication process set up they'd have nothing to worry about. http://www.christiantoday.com/article/google.hacked.no.internal.systems.breached.nearly.five.million.gmail.accounts.malware.infected.computers.leaked/40575.htm

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 10:12 AM 3

15. joaolx

Posts: 364; Member since: Aug 16, 2011

Although that was never a hack. The guy did months of planning to get the mail address, passwords and info from these celebrities so he could access the iCloud backups. It was like stealing someone's facebook account but on a large scale with celebrities.

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 3:16 AM 2

3. Sniggly

Posts: 7305; Member since: Dec 05, 2009

Cook's comments were supremely douchey and dripped of FUD, but Schmidt, as always, delivered a weaksauce response. I wish someone would just duct tape his mouth shut. Every time he opens it-and he loves to open it-he makes Google seem worse than it really is.

posted on Oct 02, 2014, 11:37 PM 9

9. ojdidit84

Posts: 462; Member since: Jul 16, 2011

He needs to hire a presidential PR person a la a real life Olivia Pope (well, a lot of CEO's need one actually lol). They open their mouths and their foots magically find their way into them instantly.

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 1:13 AM 4

5. StraightEdgeNexus

Posts: 3689; Member since: Feb 14, 2014

Schmidt made some similiar stupid statements last year too... About android being more secure than iOS.

posted on Oct 02, 2014, 11:47 PM 3

18. Sniggly

Posts: 7305; Member since: Dec 05, 2009

Well, it's not like he's necessarily wrong here, but the way he says it makes it sound like a kneejerk reaction with nothing backing it up. He doesn't say WHY Google is more secure, he doesn't say WHAT they do, and he doesn't bother properly explaining the relationship Google has with its users and their information, leaving it to the wilds of peoples' paranoid imaginations.

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 5:14 AM 6

6. willytbk

Posts: 252; Member since: Aug 15, 2012

expect more explanation on more secure but looks like the chairman doesn't explain why is more secure.

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 12:04 AM 1

27. shuaibhere

Posts: 1986; Member since: Jul 07, 2012

And where is tim cook explanation on google being less secure???

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 12:17 PM 4

7. joey_sfb

Posts: 6794; Member since: Mar 29, 2012

Pot calling the kettle black, http://www.valuewalk.com/2014/07/apple-hit-lawsuit-privacy-issue/

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 12:21 AM 3

8. promise7

Posts: 894; Member since: Jul 03, 2013

Weak response, all he says is Cook is wrong and Google is more secure. Both of them need to show how and why they are more secure instead of 'nuh-uh' like two children on a school yard.

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 1:12 AM 4

11. superfans

Posts: 155; Member since: Jul 30, 2012

Both are the same. Nothings is secure in the cyberspace.

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 1:34 AM 3

21. jroc74

Posts: 6023; Member since: Dec 30, 2010

Interesting comments by Schmidt... I wanna know how Google is more secure vs Apple.... And Cook is a complete idiot if he think Apple doesnt use info about their customers to also make money... iAds anyone? How about Apple went to the full screen ad on mobile ....before Google did?

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 6:49 AM 1

24. Augustine

Posts: 1043; Member since: Sep 28, 2013

Navigating to the Google website, everything happens with 128-bit encryption from the get go. Though 128-bit encryption is vulnerable to the NSA, with at least 192-bit encryption being recommended, navigating the Apple website is in the clear all the time, including its store until the moment to check out, when it becomes encrypted with only 128-bit strength. Methinks that Tweedledee has an edge over Tweedledum, but both are mere twiddlers or spinsters.

posted on Oct 03, 2014, 9:56 AM 0

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